"By 2011, she [Charlotte Kates] helped to found Samidoun, which boasts chapters around the world and has the stated purpose of seeking “to achieve justice for Palestinian prisoners,” in Israeli detention through demonstrations and other public events. Earlier this year she travelled to Iran to accept a human rights award, where it also has a chapter."

"Many of the prisoners she advocates to be freed have links to “terrorism, assassinations and countless attacks against Israel,” according to Public Safety Canada."

"By listing a group as a terrorist entity, it becomes a crime to provide them with material support. Leading up to its listing, Kates’ organization had long sparked concern from political leaders and companies. One point, she told supporters they could only take paper cheques, in light of the restrictions placed on them."

Stephanie Taylor, National Post 

Almost a year-and-a-half after Samidoun was listed as a designated terrorist group in Canada, no move has yet been made by any government authority to disband their Canadian operations. For that period as well Samidoun retained charitable status with Revenue Canada, continuing to raise funds in Canada to be sent abroad to Hamas and to the PFLP where Samidoun's founder Charlotte Kate's husband, Palestinian Khaled Barakat is a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Both husband and wife, incidentally, have Canadian citizenship. 

 

Anti-Israel protesters at a Samidoun-organized rally burn a Canadian flag outside the Vancouver Art Gallery on October 7, 2024. Photo by Jarryd Jaeger/X

 

"[It is completely unacceptable [that Samidoun remained a federally registered not-for-profit]."

"I have therefore directed government officials to urgently look at any and all options to formally dissolve Samidoun as well as any and all listed terrorist entities in Canada."

Melanie Joly, Industry Minister, September 2025  

Oops, big splash, but never carried through. Samidoun remains headquartered in Vancouver. Finally, Corporations Canada pulled Samidoun registration on March 27, stating that Samidoun, accused not only of advocating for violent terrorism, but of helping to fundraise for active Gazan terror groups, took action -- actually no, they did not. A statement on that very same day by the U.S. Department of the Treasury elaborated more fully, accusing Samidoun of exploiting the charitable sector to bankroll extremist violence. A "sham fundraiser whose efforts have supported terrorism".

 

Samidoun, advocating for Palestinian prisoners...Photo: Fatin al-Tamimi

 

Samidoun remained an active listing on Corporations Canada's official database, including a business number and names and addresses of three Samidoun directors. The listing eventually had a note appended to warn observers Corporations Canada was in the process of reviewing details of a terrorist organization, that any contact with the group might risk criminal prosecution. "It is a criminal offence for anyone in Canada ... to directly or indirectly provide property knowing that it will be used by or benefit a terrorist group", they alerted.

 

The registration remained active and only after a technical violation of the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act was resolved would their registration be wiped out. That violation seems to have been that Samidoun ceased submitting annual filings, following its terror designation; an oversight that was ultimately responsible for its being "dissolved for non-compliance". Really.

 

Since Samidoun's official federal terrorist designation none of its organizers have faced any charges. Co-founder Charlotte Kates remains free to enter and exit the country as she wishes. Despite the terror designation the Samidoun website and social media accounts remain active. On the website a statement appears that Samidoun intends to ignore the error designation, where Canada is referred to as a "settler-colonial state built on genocide". 

 

A screenshot of the Samidoun-led anti-Israel protest outside the Vancouver Art Gallery where Charlotte Kates was arrested, April 26, 2024. Photo by freepalestinetricitiesbc/Instagram